After several days in intensive care, Brian is now being treated on the neurology ward at Dubrovnik General Hospital
A grandfather who was left unable to walk after a horrific fall in Croatia is preparing for a 30-hour journey back to the UK this week so he can continue his treatment.
Brian Ackroyd has spent the past month in a hospital in Dubrovnik after suffering major injuries, including a fractured skull and a broken C2 vertebra. The 65-year-old father-of-three, originally from Teesville, also sustained nerve damage and three brain bleeds after falling in Cavtat on the first morning of his holiday.
After several days in intensive care, Brian is now being treated on the neurology ward at Dubrovnik General Hospital. His family launched an urgent fundraiser to get him home after an insurance oversight meant his claim was refused, Teesside Live reports.
Brian held a policy with Admiral, but the company declined to pay out because he had not disclosed certain medical information. The insurer contributed a goodwill payment of around £5,000, and supporters helped raise the nearly £14,000 needed to bring him back by road ambulance.
Brian is expected to leave Dubrovnik General on Thursday, November 27, travelling across multiple countries before entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel and continuing to Preston, where he will receive further care.
His partner, Debbie Wright, told Teesside Live: “He’ll be coming home in a land ambulance with a British medical crew. Specialist nurses are flying out tomorrow to meet him, and they’ll set off at 8am on Thursday.
“It’s not without risk, but we simply couldn’t raise the £35,000 to £40,000 needed for a medical flight. His injuries are stable, but he’s not progressing as hoped. This hospital focuses on lifesaving care, and once that’s done, patients are moved on. Brian can hardly use his hands, and his cognitive abilities are nowhere near what they were. We need him back in Preston so he can start proper rehabilitation.
“They’ll give him a full assessment when he arrives because he’s nothing like the man who set off on this holiday.”
Brian had been walking along a public footpath on October 27 when he fell. His son Richard, from Teesside, previously said: “His partner told us he must have lost his balance and fallen backwards, headfirst into a crevice. He hit his head on a rock and ended up trapped upside down, bleeding heavily.”
Local residents heard Debbie’s cries for help and alerted the emergency services.
“We were told he’s been incredibly lucky – nine times out of ten a neck fracture like his would be fatal,” Richard added. “The hospital has said he now needs to be back in the UK for intensive rehabilitation.”
Brian, who now lives in Leyland, Lancashire, worked as a lorry driver before being forced to retire due to prostate cancer. Debbie said he did have savings, but they were used up after his diagnosis meant he could no longer work.
Debbie and Richard have remained with him in Croatia and will fly home on Wednesday so they can meet him when he arrives in Preston. Debbie also thanked local Croatian families who have been visiting Brian and will support him until he leaves.
She added: “Dr Splavski and the neurology team, along with the intensive care staff, saved his life and have shown us incredible kindness. The Croatian people have been so supportive during this nightmare. We’ll never forget it – it means everything.”
